Sean Couturier out, Sam Gagner in

PITTSBURGH - Sam Gagner was promoted from the Phantoms and was the Flyers' second-line center Thursday night, replacing the injured Sean Couturier.

Gagner, who was banished to the minors Dec. 29 because of salary-cap issues, centered Michael Raffl and Bryaden Schenn.

The Flyers would say only that Couturier had a lower-body injury and was day to day.

In nine games with the Phantoms, Gagner had a goal, five assists, and a plus-3 rating. He had two goals and three assists in 18 games with the Flyers before being sent to Lehigh Valley, making room for Mark Streit to come off the long-term injured list and join the team.

Gagner, who conceded that initially "there was a bit of a shock" at his demotion," said he looked at his stint with the Phantoms as "an opportunity to evolve my game. I wasn't playing when I was up there, and when I got down there I got a chance to play a lot of minutes. The last two weekends, we had three games in three nights, so you get in pretty good shape pretty quick. I feel my timing got better and better and my game got better and better."

Added Gagner, now in his ninth NHL season: "I'm only 26 year old. I don't feel my career has passed me by. I feel I have a lot left to give."

On Wednesday, the Flyers said Couturier missed that day's practice because of a "maintenance day" and would be ready to play Thursday.

But after Couturier received treatment Thursday morning, it was determined he couldn't go.

"Things don't always go as planned," coach Dave Hakstol said.

Couturier's loss was huge because he is the Flyers' top defensive forward, and he usually shadows Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby, the Penguins' high-scoring stars. He also had 14 points in the last 14 games and has been arguably the Flyers' best player in the last five-plus weeks.

Hakstol said Gagner was recalled because he gives the Flyers more experience over rookie Jordan Weal, who has yet to play since being acquired from Los Angeles on Jan. 6.

On Wednesday, Weal had revealed there was only a 50-50 chance Couturier would play Thursday.

The Flyers planned to use centers "by committee" against Malkin, Hakstol said before the game.

With Gagner promoted, the Flyers have nearly $3.2 million in cap space, according to capfriendly.com. . . . Entering Thursday, the Flyers had killed off 19 of their last 21 penalties (90.4 percent).